The Spa at Mandarin Oriental
We resisted loving the Spa at the Mandarin. One, it's a chain. Two, it's in a hotel. But our opposition began to waver as soon as we hit the locker rooms, presented here as immaculate, fully stocked, beautifully designed 'guest lounges.' Then there were the one-of-a-kind amenities—a crystal steam room that evokes Space Mountain (in a good way), a Vichy shower with color therapy—and a full menu of excellent pedis, massages, and body treatments. Factor in a staff so exquisitely attentive we almost forgot we were not, in fact, itinerant European royals, and, needless to say, we surrendered. 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA 2199, mandarinoriental.com.
Sephora
When this national cosmetics outlet opened its branch in Burlington, we rushed to see what the fuss was about. The verdict: For pure, unadulterated immersion into the beauty world, Sephora can't be beat. There are imported perfumes (nearly the entire Versace collection!), lotions and potions (Stila body glimmer!), and trendy makeup lines (Lorac lip gloss!). There are also all of our favorites, from Chanel to Shu Uemura to Nars. The best part: Everything can be sampled before purchasing. Of course, a knowledgeable and approachable sales staff is on hand to supply product advice and makeup application assistance. 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA sephora.com.
Keezer's
When he was an undergraduate at Harvard, John F. Kennedy used to sell his slightly worn formal wear to Max Keezer's store, where Harvard men have shopped since 1895 for the occasional velvet-collared chesterfield. Keezer's also sells a huge range of more practical, traditional formal wear, casual duds, and even hats. There's also low-priced new merchandise and high-end closeouts at bargain-basement prices. They're pretty picky about the used stuff, too. Trust us; we've triedd to sell them our suits. 140 River St., Cambridge, MA .
Redbones
This has become a crowded category, thanks to a rack of new barbecue joints around town and in the suburbs. But we're going back to basics. Redbones, the funky, down-home joint in Davis Square, is the granddaddy of Boston barbecue, thanks to its efficient waitstaff, not to mention the biggest helpings of chicken, ribs, pork, and fish you've ever seen. Fortifying side dishes include succotash, hushpuppies, collard greens, corn fritters, and our favorite: Redbones' signature black beans and dirty rice. The homey bar has 24 great beers on tap. 55 Chester Street, Somerville, MA redbones.com.
Fifty-Three South
Restaurants get made over more often than Ashlee Simpson. But the new incarnation of 53 South is more about-face than facelift. The eatery has moved to snazzier, red-walled digs in an old Pizza Hut and dramatically overhauled its menu, swapping staid French fare for brave global dishes that are better than ever. Our perfect meal: wasabi-crusted tuna with cardamom sticky rice and soy ginger beurre blanc, lemon-rosemary chicken with roasted-garlic corn flan, and lavender crème brûlée. Oh. And a bottle expertly paired by the fine sommelier. 42 Washington St., Norwell, MA 2061, .
Cosmo Macer Jr., <em>Boston Herald</em>
An old-fashioned newshound with a tattoo of two Colt 45s on his forearm and a penchant for chewing tobacco in the newsroom, Macero has been at the forefront of just about every major sports-business story in town. He spent weeks throwing cold water all over the Pats' threatened move to Hartford, then broke the story behind Kraft's return. He's also been all over the Fenway deal, breaking the news that the Sox have more in mind than building just a ballpark—think mallpark—and that they probably want as much as $200 million of our tax dollars to do it.
Brendan Behan's
Even discounting the countless plastic-Paddy pubs that have sprouted all over Boston, our city boasts a wealth of genuine Celtic hangouts. But for all their fiddling, their crowds, and their shepherd's pies, these places overlook a pub's true function: to be a pleasant place to drink. The Brendan Behan is dark, wooden, and lovingly worn. There's no food, meaning no obnoxious "dining-only" seating, and the Irish barkeeps pull a slow, well-constructed Guinness. Aside from the odd band or book reading, conversation is what draws the clientele—which is neither undergraduate nor overpaid. 378A Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA brendanbehanpub.com.
Bakers' Best
The increasingly popular sit-down service is good, too (especially for Saturday and Sunday brunch), but it's the takeout that sets this Newton Highlands institution apart. The friendly staff will wrap up anything to go, from a cup of coffee to a multicourse gourmet dinner for as many guests as you can gather. Big orders like those require one day's notice, but Baker's Best makes it easy with a quiet catering office and a convenient check-off menu. There are also freezers full of ready-to-cook meal components in the main store, from hors d'oeuvres to entrées. And that food—it really is the best. 27 Lincoln St., Newton Highlands, MA bakersbestcatering.com.
Angela's Café
Ángela Atenco López, the Puebla-born chef who brought the region’s cooking to two East Boston restaurants, passed away in 2020. But her namesake eateries are still doing right by her legacy — most notably with the mole poblano de Angela, which smothers pork or chicken with her signature version of the complex sauce. As for us? Whether for homecooked dinners or served-till-3 breakfasts of crispy chilaquiles, we’re visiting more than ever now, motivated by the bittersweet reminder to love our legends while we can. 131 Lexington St., East Boston, MA 02128, angelascafeboston.com.
Empower Beauty Co.
In a landscape rife with snooty salons, Empower Beauty Co. feels like a warm hug — a nurturing environment where all women, from college students to new moms to grandmothers, can feel comfortable and beautiful. Case in point: When we called about fixing a color job botched by another salon, vivacious stylist Susan Lostimolo immediately set us at ease, sizing up the problem, intuiting the right hue to tone down brassiness, and (most important) not passing judgment. Best of all, she emailed us when our voicemail was full, just to check in. We’ve never felt more empowered. 283B Cabot St., Beverly, MA 1915, empowerbeautyco.com.
Phở Hòa and Ánh Hồng
Since these two Dorchester Vietnamese favorites teamed up under one roof last year, it’s been easier than ever for diners to get the best of both worlds. Now past the three-decade mark, Phở Hòa is probably best known for its extensive selection of phở, noodle soups with a seemingly endless combination of meat options. But the addition of Ánh Hồng brings along bò 7 món, a thrilling seven-course parade of beef dishes (including some you’ll cook at the table yourself ). The third course, thinly sliced eye of round steak marinated in lemongrass and sesame, then grilled in hot butter, is among our favorite bites of the year. 1370 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02122, phohoarestaurant.com.
The Emerald Necklace
What’s large, lucky, and green all over? Nope, it’s not a monster leprechaun; it’s the Emerald Necklace, the name for the tremendous 1,100 acres of public park space that connects Boston’s neighborhoods, from the Back Bay to Jamaica Plain to Dorchester. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted more than 100 years ago, the parks continue to serve as many Bostonians’ backyards, offering everything from quiet walks to sailing and golf, plus the Franklin Park Zoo — a true sanctuary within our city. emeraldnecklace.org.
Tim Maslow, Strip-T's, Ribelle
When Tim Maslow arrived in Boston from New York a few years ago to overhaul his father’s Watertown café, he made waves with his brash flavors and witty presentations—so much so that local food fiends fretted that his success might take him back to the Big Apple. Then came the August 2013 debut of the modern-Italian Ribelle, with its dry-aged meats, hand-rolled pastas, and clever panelle sliders. In short? It seems Maslow is in it for the long haul—and our dining scene is all the better for it. Strip-T's, 93 School St., Watertown; Ribelle, 1665 Beacon St., Brookline, stripts.com.
A Matter of Face
Don't fret the closure of Shu Uemura's beloved Newbury Street boutique (our former fave). Just head for A Matter of Face in the North End. Unlike some bigger cosmetics chains—where selection is vast, but service is often lacking—owner and makeup artist Paula Tierney is hands-on, helping shoppers choose colors and formulations from a stellar lineup of hard-to-find brands like Julie Hewett and Paula Dorf. Consultations on skin health by experts from Darphin, Caudalie, and others will help you maintain a smooth complexion—the perfect canvas for those playful cosmetics. 425 Hanover St., Boston, MA 2113, amatterofface.com.
The Tannery
Despite recent hubbub over Salem's retail revival, the miles-walked-to-treasures-found ratio at the Tannery—an old leather mill packed with more than 40 shops and services—remains the most enticing on the North Shore. It boasts two previous Best of Boston winners, Shanti Salon and luxe homegoods shop Wishbasket, as well as two of our favorite kinds of independents: bookstore (Jabberwocky Books) and toy store (Eureka). Summer has the added lure of the local farmers' market; during the holidays, the Tannery has a lock on one-stop gift shopping. 75 Water St., Newburyport, MA 1950, tannerymarketplace.com.